TASMANIAN coach Anthony McConnon is confident his team can make full use of home advantage with Hobart playing host to the Australian Amateur Football Council national carnival this week.
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McConnon believes selectors have assembled a team that will be highly competitive against Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia.
‘‘We have been buoyed with the level of commitment from players across all three regions in respect to attending the selection sessions, particularly when players know selection in the team requires them to take three or more days off work to play in the carnival,’’ he said.
‘‘We have a good balance of inside and outside players, likewise an even spread of talls and smalls, so we are really confident they will give a good account of themselves and represent our state extremely well.’’
The under-23 age concept provides an opportunity for the best amateur players across the country to ply their craft against their peers.
The carnival kicks off at noon on Thursday, with Tasmania and Western Australia playing the opening game at North Hobart Oval.
Tasmania backs up that afternoon, taking on the Victorians at 2.20pm.
Action continues on Friday at North Hobart with Tassie playing the South Australians at 1.10pm.
The final day’s play moves to Bellerive Oval, involving the top two ranked teams from the round robin format at 2.30pm with the winner crowned champion. The teams ranked third and fourth will play off at 12.30pm.
The carnival concludes on Saturday night with a presentation ceremony at Bellerive from 5pm, where the All-Australian amateur team will be announced.
The full carnival schedule can also be viewed on AFL Tasmania’s website.
TASMANIA: Jack Vaanderfeen (Ulverstone, captain), Zach Mihocek (Penguin, vice-captain), Dylan Riley (Deloraine, vice-captain), Michael Paul (Huonville, vice-captain), Nathan Robertson (Ulverstone), Mark Horne (New Norfolk), Bryce Haneveer (Wynyard), Lucas Green (Claremont), Matt Zanetto (Bridgenorth), Tom Mitchell (Wynyard), Tyron Rainbird (New Norfolk), Braidy Squires (George Town), Jack Taylor-Evans (New Norfolk), Jarrod Westell (Claremont), Mitchell Walker (East Coast), Daniel Rowbottom (Brighton), Ashton Arnold (Brighton), Luke Johnson (Old Launcestonians), Tom Chugg (Evandale), Randal Hardy (Penguin), Zeik Johnson (Scottsdale), Ben Lovell (New Norfolk), Jade Smith (Latrobe), Rulla Kelly-Mansell (Deloraine), Luke McCarthy (South Launceston), Jake Laskey (South Launceston), Finbar Wray-McCann (Penguin, emergency), James King (Penguin, emergency)
